Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 86

Raising a Liang Ruojing Is Quite Nice

Inside the trending search hashtag, the post with the highest engagement was a blog entry from a fan.

Good heavens, who chewed Ming Tanqing’s neck into this state?!

Attached was a screenshot from the livestream. In the dimly lit backstage area, illuminated by a single corner of the stage lights, Ming Tanqing was leaning over to support a fallen Liu Lanshi. As her black hair swept aside with her movement, a most private and ambiguous wound was exposed to the camera.

Liang Ruojing’s heart skipped a beat. She tapped the image, zooming in, then zooming in again. This was the first time she had seen her own “masterpiece” through a photograph.

It wasn’t like this, she thought. To the naked eye, it hadn’t looked that severe. No wonder Xiao Xing had been giving her such strange looks earlier—it was a look of condemnation!

Liang Ruojing found herself unable to defend her actions. She scrolled through the comment section, where the fans’ reactions were even more intense:

So passionate… that’s so “it.”

Sister, no—Alpha’s should be gentle!

WHO!! Pleading for the paparazzi to work harder!

Don’t believe rumors, don’t spread them. Waiting for the studio’s statement.

Uh, how do you even spin this? A dog bit her?

The focus of the discussion was entirely on the “Mysterious Alpha.” Passersby flocked to the scene, crowding the official media accounts to a standstill. Ming Tanqing had been in the industry for a long time and possessed immense national fame; few people didn’t recognize her face. Furthermore, her status was transcendent and her family background superior; everyone was attracted to her, yet kept a respectful distance.

And now, you’re saying she has an Alpha! Just who was this sacred figure?

As Liang Ruojing scrolled through her phone, she watched the online speculation grow increasingly wild. As for herself, she could only find “crack-ships” of her and Ming Tanqing in a dark corner of the web and quietly give them a “like.”

Good taste, she thought. Regarding other ships—she didn’t look, didn’t think, and didn’t care.

Liang Ruojing grabbed a quick dinner on the road and arrived at Baiyu by the time night had fully fallen. The moonlight was like water, spreading a gentle ripple throughout the room. Her phone emitted a special notification tone; Ming Tanqing had replied to her message.

Liang Ruojing: Sister Tanqing, what should we do about the trending search? Ming Tanqing: The studio will handle it. Rest assured.

That shameful sense of security. Liang Ruojing stared at Ming Tanqing’s profile picture as a flurry of complex emotions surged within her. Thousands of words eventually condensed into one sentence:

Liang Ruojing: I miss you so much.

Was it too sappy to use that phrase after only four hours of separation? Liang Ruojing didn’t think much of it; her heart was filled with a single desire—she wanted to be with Ming Tanqing. Out of so many people, only she could be.

Ming Tanqing: Okay. I’ll be back as soon as the check-up is done. Very soon.

The corners of Liang Ruojing’s mouth curled high. She then paced around the room several times, ensuring that the scent of peppermint wine pheromones filled every corner before she sat satisfied on the sofa and turned on the TV.

Peach Blossom Spring: Ancient Town Chapter was currently airing, with the final episode having just updated last night. The program’s marketing department had responded rapidly; Liu Lanshi had won the Huabiao Film Award for Best Actress one moment, and the next, the variety show’s promotional tagline became: “Huabiao Best Actress Hoeing Fields Online.”

Liang Ruojing recalled the photos she had seen on social media and felt a pang of envy. A Huabiao Best Actress. She remembered that at the age of fourteen, Ming Tanqing had starred in The Sinful Flower and had won that very award.

A ringtone interrupted her sinking thoughts. The caller ID showed “Sister Tang.”

“Is Ming Tanqing’s marking you’re doing?” After receiving an affirmative answer, Tang Yuecen asked again, “Have you contacted Ming Tanqing? What did they say on their end?”

Liang Ruojing relayed Ming Tanqing’s words, her tone as light as possible. “It should be fine. I believe in Sister Ming.”

Tang Yuecen was silent for a few seconds before asking back, “What about you? Are you okay?”

Liang Ruojing replied briskly, “What could happen to me?”

Another dead silence followed. Tang Yuecen spoke first: “…How did the audition go?”

A heavy sigh came through the receiver, and Liang Ruojing’s voice finally carried a hint of dejection. “It might not be good. The audition content wasn’t from the script; it was improvisation, which I’m worst at. Looking at their expressions, my chances are very low.”

“That’s just speculation.”

“I know—” Liang Ruojing looked up at the ceiling. “But she is so good, and she helped me so much. If I don’t get in, I’m afraid…”

In the two years she had known Liang Ruojing, this was the first time Tang Yuecen had seen her so full of gain-and-loss anxiety. “You shouldn’t be mentioning these things to me,” Tang Yuecen prompted.

Liang Ruojing: “If I tell her, I’m afraid she’ll be disappointed in me.”

“If there is no expectation, there will be no disappointment,” Tang Yuecen said calmly. “The question is, are you willing to accept that?”

The logic was sound, but how could a young person in the throes of a passionate romance want to expose their shortcomings to their partner? Liang Ruojing still remembered—she was the “pursuer”! Of course, she had to show her best side!

The call ended, and it was unclear how much of Tang Yuecen’s words Liang Ruojing had actually absorbed. She returned to the sofa and absentmindedly tapped into the search bar. When she came to her senses again, the theme song of Palace Lyrics was playing in the room.

Damn muscle memory.

Liang Ruojing slumped on the sofa and watched Palace Lyrics yet again. As the movie reached its end, a sound came from the entryway. She first smelled the elegant scent of lilies. She hurriedly stood up, turned off the movie, and flipped the light switch with a “snap.”

The Omega’s face, etched with a fatigue she couldn’t hide, appeared before her. Ming Tanqing looked at her from a distance like an elusive wind, her long lashes lowered, harboring weariness.

“Sister Tanqing?” Liang Ruojing rushed forward to take the bag from her shoulder. The Alpha chirped like a little bird, circling around Ming Tanqing. “I told you I should have gone with you; gland examinations are the most exhausting. Here, have some water first.”

Before Ming Tanqing could react, her other hand had fallen into Liang Ruojing’s palm. Liang Ruojing’s eyes were curved with smiles, showing no trace of gloom. “How were the results? What did Doctor Fang say?”

Ming Tanqing leaned silently against the Alpha. The peppermint wine pheromones were naturally drawn to her, wrapping around her in a warm embrace.

“Overworked,” Ming Tanqing blinked. “Other than that, nothing.”

“Just that?” Liang Ruojing was slightly surprised. After all, the state of the Omega’s gland at that time had clearly been unusual. It was so red, so sensitive. Liang Ruojing had thought it might be related to a gland disorder.

Ming Tanqing repeated: “It’s nothing.”

Since the person involved was so insistent, Liang Ruojing thought about it and decided there was no reason for Ming Tanqing to lie to her. What was there that couldn’t be said?

She convinced herself and quickly urged Ming Tanqing to wash up and go to sleep. It was late, and they had to rush back to the set tomorrow. Liang Ruojing had completely forgotten about the existence of the contract. The dense clauses from months ago had long since been reduced to scrap paper, torn apart by one rule broken by Liang Ruojing and another by Ming Tanqing. For instance, the clause stating “When Party A expresses a desire to stop, Party B shall not continue” had been violated countless times.

When Ming Tanqing came out after her shower, the phone in her bag rang. Seeing it was a call from Qi Lin, Liang Ruojing dutifully brought it to her. It was likely about the trending search.

The Omega was enveloped in steam, her black hair damp against her shoulders. Water droplets trickled down, soaking her collar. Seeing her so oblivious to herself, Liang Ruojing felt a bit helpless. Her health was already poor, yet she didn’t know how to take care of herself.

Nothing for it then. She could only use this chance as a pursuer to gain some favor.

Liang Ruojing took out a towel and began to dry Ming Tanqing’s hair with careful precision. She was the one serving, yet she was also the one who was happy. I can dry her hair; can anyone else? At the thought, Liang Ruojing almost began to hum. Not only that, but she could also stay at Ming Tanqing’s house tonight. She could hold Ming Tanqing while she slept. She could even kiss her.

Don’t be sad, the 30% of ‘Liang-Ming’ fans on the web—your ship is the real one!

The conversation between Ming Tanqing and Qi Lin continued. As Liang Ruojing listened, something suddenly felt off.

“Follow what we discussed.” “Sister Qi, I don’t think there’s any…” “I will consider this situation.” “Alright.”

Is it very tricky? Liang Ruojing wondered. While helping dry her hair, she inevitably saw the back of Ming Tanqing’s neck. Perhaps because it had just been steamed by the heat, the Omega’s skin had a translucent quality. Consequently, the bite marks around the gland were even more conspicuous.

Okay, Liang Ruojing had to admit, she really had bitten a bit too hard. The Alpha instinct was truly difficult to resist. She wondered if there was something wrong with her self-control; why did she frequently lose it and cross boundaries whenever she encountered Ming Tanqing?

The call ended, and Ming Tanqing looked deep in thought. However proud Liang Ruojing had been a moment ago, she was that heartbroken now. She realized she had caused trouble for Ming Tanqing.

“It’s all my fault.” Liang Ruojing plugged in the hair dryer and dutifully helped the Omega dry her hair.

Hearing this, Ming Tanqing turned sideways, her gaze lightly sweeping over Liang Ruojing. “If helping me with a marking was a mistake, Liang Ruojing, will you stop helping in the future?”

Ming Tanqing’s voice was clear and clean, but her tone sounded dangerous.

“I wouldn’t dare!” Liang Ruojing held the beautiful hair in front of her and dried it carefully. “I’ll be gentler next time.”

That much is acceptable.

Ming Tanqing didn’t reply. She adjusted her posture on the sofa, grabbed the remote, and pressed the power button.

Wait—

The TV screen lit up, staying on the last content played: Palace Lyrics.

With a flick of her wrist, Ming Tanqing closed the movie, randomly selected a classic old film on the homepage, and began to watch it seriously.

Eh? Liang Ruojing observed the Omega’s profile in confusion. Isn’t she going to ask about the audition results?

Her mood was like a high schooler who had failed an exam. She was afraid her sweetheart would care, but even more afraid her sweetheart wouldn’t care at all. Once the hair was dry, Liang Ruojing moved on to dry the collar of the bathrobe. After the collar, she produced a comb from nowhere and began to comb Ming Tanqing’s hair.

Having finished everything, she had nothing left to do. She sat on the sofa with her “tail” tucked between her legs, her expression looking oddly comical. Ming Tanqing’s heavy mood collapsed the moment she saw Liang Ruojing’s face.

When she had been at her lowest, Cheng Yaro had recommended getting a pet. What had Ming Tanqing said back then? “No need.”

Now, she felt that raising a Liang Ruojing was quite nice.

Ming Tanqing let out a light laugh. “She can even sweep the floors.”

Seeing the Alpha actually about to stand up, Ming Tanqing decisively grabbed her and gave a hard tug. Liang Ruojing didn’t sit firmly, but relying on her Alpha reflexes, she stabilized herself in time, her arms spread out to brace herself over Ming Tanqing.

As her gaze shifted down, her hands went weak the moment she saw the snowy-white view before her, and she buried her face in it.

Ming Tanqing commented coldly, “Your acting is terrible.”

Having suffered a sudden critical blow, Liang Ruojing stood up reluctantly. “Is it really that bad?”

Very bad. She couldn’t hide her emotions at all. Even when she smiled, the sorrow in her eyes couldn’t be concealed. Hovering in front of her, she was full of flaws.

Ming Tanqing sighed. “Is my evaluation that important?”

Important. It’s too important. Just as Liang Ruojing was about to speak, Ming Tanqing’s words cut her off.

“There is still room for improvement.”

Liang Ruojing’s heart ached with bitterness. She knew, of course, that one couldn’t reach the heavens in a single step. One had to take it slow, take it slow. But she was so slow; when would she ever catch up to Ming Tanqing?

Liang Ruojing confessed: “Sister Tanqing, the audition results might not be very good.” She forced a smile. “But, that’s a Wen Qingjia film; even just auditioning for it counts as a gain.”

“Ruojing,” Ming Tanqing called her name. “Caring is caring.”

The softest part of her inner self was struck. The anxiety when she received the prompt, the trepidation while observing the judges’ expressions, the unwillingness when walking out of the building… all sorts of emotions came flooding back. Liang Ruojing did care. She cared to death. She blinked, her tears burning, her eyes aching.

Ming Tanqing called her again, her fingers climbing up the Alpha’s arm. Liang Ruojing was unwilling to turn around.

“Ruojing.”

The scent of lily belonging to the Omega wafted over, enveloping the Alpha. Liang Ruojing’s back was the picture of stubbornness. Ming Tanqing hadn’t realized her words carried so much weight. She had no choice but to move forward, leaning against Liang Ruojing, keeping her tone very soft.

“Ruojing, my gland hurts. Can you give me a hug?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Liang Ruojing turned around and pulled Ming Tanqing into a tight embrace. Hot tears fell, dripping onto the skin behind the Omega’s ear.

Ming Tanqing’s entire body tensed. She raised her hand and gently stroked Liang Ruojing’s head.

“I’m sorry. Actually… I think you acted very well.”